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Have you heard about people using peptides for joint pain? The concept is gaining traction as more individuals seek alternative therapies to alleviate inflammation.

Many people who struggle with joint pain and inflammation, find that the discomfort persists despite conventional treatment. These individuals look to treatments like peptides and other natural remedies for help. 

Let’s take a closer look at the potential benefits and safety of using peptides for inflammation. We’ll also highlight how these proteins can assist with pain, and which options are most effective. 

Understanding joint pain and inflammation

What is joint pain? A joint refers to a part of the body where the ends of two bones connect. Certain conditions and injuries can cause severe discomfort in these regions. 

Pain in these areas may limit the functionality of the joints and make doing certain tasks challenging. As a result, it could impact your quality of life. 

There are several causes for joint pain. Let’s highlight a few: 

• Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis. It typically occurs after the age of 45. It’s caused by the protective cushion between the bones (cartilage) wearing away. The result is stiff joints that hurt. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): This form of arthritis usually affects a person’s fingers and wrists. Medical professionals consider it a chronic condition. It causes swelling and severe discomfort in the joints. 
• Gout: When acidic crystals from the body collect in a joint, it’s called gout. The condition causes excruciating pain and swelling. It usually impacts the big toe. 
• Tendinitis: As the name implies, this condition affects the tendons. The main cause is inflammation. Tendinitis is usually visible in the elbow, heels, or shoulders. In many cases, it occurs because of overuse of these areas. 
• Bursitis: When you put a lot of stress on your joints, it could lead to bursitis. The condition is common in the feet, knees, shoulders, and elbows. There is usually painful swelling around the joints and patients with the condition have a limited range of motion. 
• Viral infections: Viral arthritis causes swelling and inflammation. The discomfort typically lasts until the viral infection clears. Unlike osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, this condition is not considered chronic. It usually lasts a few weeks. 
• Broken bones: Post-traumatic arthritis is usually caused by an injury. The damage from a bone fracture may create arthritis in the affected joint. The most common places affected by this type of arthritis are the ankles, elbows, hips, and knees. 
• Age: Problems may arise in your joints as you get older. These conditions are more common in individuals over the age of 45. 

What are peptides

Peptides are similar to proteins. They’re like smaller versions of them. Both are made of amino acids, but peptides contain less of them. 

Another common factor between the two is that they’re both naturally present in foods.

Peptides are strings of amino acids. These are typically easier for the body to absorb than proteins. They’re smaller and penetrate the skin and intestines easily.

Certain peptides have potentially beneficial properties for the body. Their impact on the body depends on the sequence of amino acids they consist of. Most peptides contain 2–50 amino acids on a string.

There is ongoing research in the field, but anecdotal data suggests that they may: 

• Help lower blood pressure
• Serve as antioxidants
• Reduce inflammation
• Kill microbes
• Improve immunity levels
• Prevent blood clots from forming

It’s common to find peptide supplements. These often fall into the category of collagen peptides or creatine peptides. The former affects skin health and helps with concealing the signs of aging. The latter is associated with building muscle mass and strength. 

The link between peptides and joint pain

Why are people turning to peptides for arthritis and other similar conditions? Some experts claim that peptides support the natural healing abilities of the body. 

Some of the functions they perform include: 

• Promoting healing
• Reduce inflammation
• Facilitate weight-loss
• Repair soft tissue

These properties seem to fit the requirements for treating joint pain. Currently, there’s no cure for this kind of discomfort. There are only certain options for temporary relief. 

Individuals who struggle with inflamed and sore joints want an effective solution. According to studies, certain collagen peptides may be the solution. 

Conventional treatment vs peptides

Before we look at the potential of joint healing peptides, we need to understand the conventional options. The treatment types vary from simple ones you can do at home, to surgery. 

The appropriate way to care for aches and inflammation in the joints depends on the specific condition. 

The simplest home treatments include applying a heating pad or cold compress to the affected area. Doing gentle exercises or losing weight may also reduce the pain. The latter lowers the strain on the joints. 

Individuals may also opt for over-the-counter medications or topical creams for relief. If these don’t help effectively, some people could take dietary supplements, pain relievers, or steroids.

These medications affect each person differently. There are also various surgeries that may assist with the pain. These include: 

•  Arthroscopy
• Joint fusion
• Osteomy
• Joint replacement

Using peptides for joint pain is a relatively newer addition to treatment options. It usually involves a subcutaneous injection to get the peptides into the bloodstream as fast as possible.

Peptides have low toxicity risk and typically produce positive results. There are also very few potential side effects.

Some of the benefits on joints from peptides include:

• Peptides facilitate the creation of new blood cells.
• They help with wound healing.
• Some peptides have anti-inflammatory properties.
• They help repair soft tissue.
• They boost collagen production.

Key peptides for joint pain and inflammation

Which peptides for joint pain work best? The top pick for many individuals is BPC157, however, there are other options that may also be effective. One of these is the PRP joint injection.

Below we highlight the properties of some of the most popular peptides for joint pain and inflammation:

• BPC157: Some people call this peptide Pentadeca. It’s a synthetic peptide derived from a protein that’s present in the stomach. Research suggests that it accelerates repair in various tissues. These include the joints, ligaments, and tendons.

BPC157 is also great for sports recovery and reducing inflammation which is a cause of joint problems. It also promotes angiogenesis and boosts blood flow to problematic areas of the body.

• TB-500: The peptide is also known as Thymosin Beta-4. It’s a synthetic version of a peptide that’s a cell migration role player. 

The benefits include cell growth and repair, reduced inflammation, and fast recovery from injuries. In some cases, it may assist with improving the flexibility of the affected joint. 

• Collagen peptides: The body naturally produces collagen. It usually forms in tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. As we get older the body produces less of this protein.

In some cases, this decline in collagen production is the cause of joint pain. However, collagen peptides, derived from hydrolyzed collagen, have gained popularity for their healing properties.

These can help replenish the reserves in the body and support cartilage regeneration. 

It can also reduce stiffness and discomfort by promoting lubrication in the joints. As a result, the patient may experience better flexibility in the damaged area. 

There are also several other peptides that aren’t as popular as a joint treatment. They could be beneficial. These are: 

• CJC-1295 (Ipamorelin): It’s a growth hormone-releasing peptide. It stimulates the human growth hormone (HGH) to accelerate cell regeneration and repair tissue.
• AOD-9604: The peptide can assist with cartilage and tissue repair. It was originally aimed at assisting individuals with obesity, but some of its properties align with treating joint pain. 
• GHK-Cu (Copper peptide): The copper peptide has a range of benefits for joint health. It reduces inflammation, lowers oxidative stress, promotes wound healing, and promotes collagen production.

How to use peptides for joint pain and inflammation

Using peptides for joint pain may be a viable option, but how does it work? 

There are multiple ways to use peptides. The first and most popular is via an intramuscular injection. It allows the peptide to reach the bloodstream quickly. As a result, patients may feel the benefits sooner. 

The second option involves taking them orally. Some individuals claim that this method may be more advantageous with BPC157 as the protein comes from the stomach.

Some people also take peptides topically. The standard dose of BPC157 is based on the patient’s weight and age. It’s usually within a range of 110–180 mcg.

The amount may be higher or lower depending on each individual’s reaction.

Safety and side effects of peptide therapy

The research on using peptides for joint pain is limited. The current findings reveal that potential side effects include: 

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Cold flashes
• Hot flashes
• Initial inflammation at the site of the injection
• Changes in appetite
• Fatigue 

Several more serious reactions that could occur. These include: 

• Allergic reactions
• Cardiovascular problems affecting heart function and blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal problems 

It’s best to consult a medical professional before using peptides. It’s best to start with a low dose and increase it as required. Most of the side effects fade over time, but if not, lower the dosage. 

Future prospects of peptide therapy

Peptides are in an experimental phase as a treatment. The research is currently ongoing. There is a wide range of potential applications for use and studies look positive.

Information collected from 2022 proves the relevance of peptide treatment in the pharmaceutical industry. During that year, the proteins accounted for 5% of the global pharmaceutical market. 

In medical spheres, peptides show great promise. In 2022 alone, the market size of these proteins was valued at $42.05 billion. This figure is predicted to grow in the near future.

Peptides for pain: The wrap-up 

Using peptides for joint pain takes a new perspective on treating a common ailment. Several options that could help, but most people select BPC157. 

There is a list of beneficial properties associated with this protein. Its ability to target inflammation is helpful for most forms of arthritis which is a major cause of joint pain. 

Here at LIVV Natural, we have a variety of ways to use peptides to boost your wellness. Now that you know more about the advantages of peptides, why not book a treatment today?